Signal receiving means



May 23, 1933. B, HAGEN 1,910,537

SIGNAL RECEIVING MEANS Filed June '7, 1930 610 [AMP INVENTOR GERHARU B. HAGEN ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GERHARD B. HAGEN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO TELEFUNKEN GESELL- SCI-IAFT FUR DRAI-ITLOSE TELEGRAPI-IIE M. B. H., OF .IBERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPO- RATION F GERMANY SIGNAL RECEIVING MEANS Application filed June 7, 1930, Serial No. 459,624, and. in Germany June 8, 1929.

This invention broadly relates to a method of signal reception and more specifically to a system adapted to receive such signals when non-modulated waves are used.

WVhenever non-modulated waves are dealt with in the transmission of signals, it is customary in connection with the reception of such signals to use and have recourse to heterodyning in order to render the wave-trains readable or audible. In such cases it is known that the local heterodyne oscillator 01' wave-generator must be able to generate a highly constant frequency with the result that considerable difficulties are met with in practice which are especially serious whenever short waves are dealt with.

According to the present invention, audio frequency oscillations are employed for rendering signals readable or audible, and these audio frequency oscillations are produced by the ignition (striking) and the rupturing (or breaking) of the discharge in a glow-discharge lamp.

The invention will best be understood from a reading of the following detailed specification in connection with the drawing the single figure of which illustrates diagrammatically a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In said drawing the plate circuit of audion tube 1 which may be regeneratively coupled if desired as shown by the circuit 2, is connected in series with an anode battery 3 and a resistance 4. In parallel with the audion tube there is connected a glow-discharge lamp 5 in series with a telephone 6. In parallel relation to the glow-discharge lamp 5 is a suitably dimensioned condenser 7 It is of advantage to provide a potentiometer device 8 in shunt to the plate battery 3. Thus, by the aid of this potentiometer the potential acting at the glow-discharge lamp may be kept below the rupturing potential.

When electro-magnetic waves are received 4 in the circuit, say, impressed upon the input 9, the rectified oscillations result in a fall of potential across the resistance 4 and the charging of condenser 7, discharge taking place periodically by way of the glow-discharge lamp 5. The audible frequency perceivable in the telephone receiver 6 depends upon the size of the condenser 7 the resistance a, the constants of the glow-discharge lamp and the intensity of the current flowing through resistance 4.

An arrangement such as described may be used for the recording of incoming signals, as for instance, for purposes of picture telegraphy by having a strip or tape of material reacting to light travel past the glow-discharge lamp 5 in any desired manner. Of course, it is possible to have the light aifect light sensitive material through an optical system;

I claim:

1. In a signalling system of the kind described, a space discharge device having input and output circuits, a current source and an impedance in series connected in the output circuit, an impedance shunted across said current source, a glow discharge device and a translating means in series connected between one end of said first named impedance and an intermediate point of said second named impedance and a condenser shunted 7 across said glow discharge device.

2. In a receiving system, a thermionic repeater device having a signal input circuit connected between the input electrodes thereof, a repeater circuit connected between the output electrodes of said device, a source of direct current and an impedance connected in series in said output circuit, a condenser connected in parallel with said direct current source, a glow discharge device and a translating device connected in series across said impedance and a portion of said direct current source, and a condenser connected in parallel with said glow discharge device.

3. An arrangement for translating high frequency message waves comprising an electron discharge device having an input circuit and an output circuit, a grid leak and condenser arranged in said input circuit for allowing direct current to flow through said device in the absence of high frequency voltage and for reducing direct current flow through said device when said input circuit is energized with high frequency energy, a glow discharge tube in said output circuit,

a condenser in parallel with said glow tube, and a resistance also in said output in circuit with said glow tube and condenser whereby reduced current flow through said device due to high frequency currents impressed on said input circuit allows said tube, condenser and resistance to generate low frequency oscillations in said output circuit and Whereby increased current flow through said device due to absence of high frequency currents in said input circuit prevents said tube, condenser and resistance from generating low frequency oscillations.

GERHARD B. HAGEN. 

